Safety mechanism for packaging machines



July 14, 1942.

J. HOHL EIAL SAFETY ,MECHANISM FORPACKAGING MACHINES Filed Sept. 5, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet l ORNEYS July 14, 1942.

J. Hol-1L Erm. 2,290,103 SAFETY MECHANISM FOR PACKAGING MACHINES Filed Sept. 5, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY M y 407 ATTO NEYS July 14, 1942. J. HoHl. Erm.

SAFETY MECHANISM FOR PACKAGING MACHINES 5 Sheets-SheetV 3 Filed Sept. 5, 1940 A RNEYs July 14, 1942.

J. HoHl. ErAL 2,290,103 SAFETY MECHANISM FOR PACKAGING MACHINES Filed sept. 5. 1940 v s'sheets-sheet 4 E lvEToR S l j BY @6&0-

-- -.1 AT ORNEYS July 14, @42 J. Hoi-n. ET AL SAFETY MECHANISM FOR PACKAGING MACHINES Filed Sept. 5, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ORNEYS loperation of the Patented July 14, 1942 Uris TES ATE,

QFFICE SAFETY MECHANI'SM FOR PACKAGING MACHINES .lohn Hohl and Olav Bjering, Toledo, Ohio, assignors to wens-llinois Glass Company, a. corporation of Ohio 10 Claims.

Our invention relates to machines for packaging commodities including liquids, comminuted materials and other substances. In packaging machines of the type to which the present invention applies the empty packages or containers are brought in succession into operative relation to filling devices by which measured quantities of the material are introduced through a iilling nozzle into the package. It some times occurs that a container is missing at the normal time for supplying a charge of the material through the iilling nozzle. The present invention provides automatic means for preventing the discharge of the filling material when there is no package or container in position to receive it.

The invention in the form herein illustrated relates to a machine designed for packaging oil or other liquids in packages each comprising an impervious flexible bag Within an outer protecting carton. A measured quantity of the liquid is introduced into the empty package comprising a bag which has been placed within the carton, the bag being then sealed and the carton thereafter closed and sealed to complete the package.

The filling mechanism comprises a nozzle which A is introduced into the open mouth of the empty bag Within the carton. Air may be introduced through the nozzle to inflate the bag. A pump then operates to inject a measured quantity of the liquid. A valve in the nozzle, which controls the flow of liquid therethrough, is closed after each filling operation.

An object of our invention is to provide automatic safety mechanism for preventing opening of the valve in the nozzle in the event that there fis no empty package in proper position thereon, thus preventing discharge of the lling material. It has been found in practice that although such safety mechanism serves the intended purpose, it also causes a change in the pressure characteristics of the illing system, back pressure being built up in the line through which the liquid is conveyed to the nozzle. This results in a variation in the amount of liquid discharged. To

overcome this diiiiculty a further object of the invention is to provide automatic means by which operation of the pump is prevented when there is no empty package in position to receive the charge of liquid. Such means for preventing conjunction with the valve for cutting off the flow through the nozzle or independently of such a Valve.

A further object of the invention is to provide means by which the empty package when in posipump may operate either in tion to receive a charge of liquid, operates automatically to cause a normal operation of the iilling mechanism, means being provided to render the lling mechanism inoperative in the absence of a carton or empty package.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation View of a lling turret forming part of the packaging machine to which our invention is applied, said View also showing the pumping mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevation vieW on a larger scale of part of the mechanism shown in Fig. l, showing particularly the trip mechanism controlling the valve in the iilling nozzle and also controlling the operation of the pump.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a device for resetting the trip mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of a plate actuated by the package at the filling position for operating the trip mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation at the line 5-5 on Fig. 2 illustrating the trip mechanism and a package by which it is operated.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional elevation of a lling nozzle and its appurtenances.

Fig. '7 is a section at the line 'lon Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional elevation showing the clutch mechanism and associated parts.

Fig. 9 is a sectional elevation at the line 9-9 on Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a section at the line Iii-I9 on Fig. 2.

Fig. 11 is a section at the line Il-I l on Fig. 2.

Fig. 12 is a perspective View of a rock arm.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a locking dog for the clutch.

Fig. 14 is a sectional vievv of the clutch mechanism, the section being taken at the line M-Ill on Fig. 9.

Fig. 15 is a sectional detail at the line |5|5 on Fig. 9.

The machine herein illustrated is particularly fdesigned for packaging oil or other liquids and is herein described as used for packaging oil. This machine embodies modifications of the oil packaging machine disclosed in the copending application, Serial Number 337,262, led May 25, 1940, and may be considered an improvement on said machine.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1 the machine comprises a turret 20 mounted on a frame 2l for continuous rotation about a vertical aXis. The turret carries a series of lling units, the

particular design herein shown comprising four such units. Each said unit includes a head 22 mounted for up and down movement on a pair of vertical rods 23 having a fixed mounting on the turret, such up and down movement being controlled by a stationary cam 22a. Each head 22 includes a depending nozzle 24 adapted to be projected downward into the open mouth of an empty package when the head 22 is lowered.

Each package comprises a bag 25 (Figs. 5 and l0) of Pliolm or other impervious material and a carton 26 in which the bag is placed. The carton is held between a pair of vertically disposed gripping plates 21 and 28, the latter being formed on a rock arm 28 pivoted at 38 and actuated by a cam 3| for gripping the carton. The carton is further supported by an upright support 32 (Figs. 5 and 1) and a bottom support 33. placed in position on the turret by hand or automatically by mechanism such as fully disclosed in said copending application, Serial Number 337,262.

The turret is rotated continuously by an electric motor 34 (Fig. 1) having driving connection therewith through a train of gearing including bevel gears 35 and 36, the latter keyed to a drive shaft 31 geared to a vertical shaft 38 to which is keyed a spur gear 39 op-erating through an intermediate gear 48 to drive a ring gear 4| on the turret.

The motor 34 also operates to drive an oil pump 42 which supplies measured quantities of oil to the packages. The pump as shown is a double acting pump comprising a cylinder and reciprocating piston, the piston rod 43 being connected to the lower end of a lever 44, the upper end of which carries a head 45 adjustable up and down by means of a hand wheel 46 for adjustably regulating the volume of oil supplied at each piston stroke. A link 41 is pivoted at one end to the lever 44 and at its other end to a stationary bracket 48 on the machine frame. motor 34 and the pump includes a sprocket wheel 49 keyed to the shaft 31, a sprocket chain 58 trained over the wheel 49 and a sprocket wheel 5| (Figs. l, 9 and 14). The wheel 5| has a driving connection through clutch mechanism hereinafter described with a shaft 52 journalled in a standard 53. An eccentric 54 fixed to the shaft 52 operates a pitman 55 connected to the lever 44 for reciprocating the pump piston.

A cam 56 on the shaft 52 engages a cam roll 51 on the valve stem of the pump valve 58, said valve beingvof conventional construction and operable to connect the opposite ends of the pump cylinder alternately with an intake pipe 59 through which oil is drawn into the pump cylinder. When either end of said cylinder is open to the intake pipe, the other end is in communication with the oil line 68 through which oil is transmitted to the lling nozzles. The

line 60 extends through a distributing head on g the turret which operates as the latter is rotated to connect the lling nozzles in succession to the oil line through flexible pipes 6| individual to the filling heads. Each pipe 5| (Figs. 1 and 6) opens into a chamber 62 in the filling head.

Each filling head is provided with a tubular plunger 63 which extends downward through the chamber 62 into the nozzle and serves as a valve for closing the nozzle. It also serves as The empty packages may be I The driving connection between the an air line through which air under pressure is supplied for nlating the bags preliminary to the oil filling operation. Each plunger is provided with a valve 65 which seats on the lower end thereof and is held closed by a light tension spring 6G. The valves E5 are opened by the pressure of the air which is supplied to the plungers through pipes 61 individual to the plungers. Each pipe 61 is periodically connected to a source of air pressure supply under the control of a distributing head on the turret.

When an empty package (Fig. 5), comprising a carton 26 and bag 25, enters the lling zone, the lling head 22 is lowered by means of the cam 22a so that the nozzle 24 enters the mouth of the bag which has been previously opened by means including a suction head 7L. Air under pressure is then admitted to inflate the bag. The plunger 63 is then lifted by mechanism presently to be described, thereby opening the nozzle and permitting a charge of oil to be introduced into the carton. The mechanism for lifting the plunger (see Figs. l, 2) includes a rock shaft 68 journalled in a bracket 59 mounted on the filling head 62. A rock arm 18 fixed to the shaft 68 carries a cam roll running on a stationary cam 1|. A lever 12, mounted to rock on the shaft 68, is formed with a bifurcated end 13 (Figs. 5 and 6) which engages beneath an adjustable stop nut 14 threaded on the plunger rod 63. The opposite end of the lever 12 is adapted to be engaged by a latching lever 15 pivoted at 16 on an arm 11 fixed to the rock shaft 68. A light tension spring 11a connected between the lever 12 and an extension of the arm 11 holds the lever against a stop lug 1l'b on said extension.

The latch 15 carries a roll 18. A trip rod 19, which projects into the path of the roll 18, serves during the normal operation of the machine to swing the latch lever 15 into engagement with the lever 12 so that when the rock arm 10 is lifted by the cam 1| to rock the shaft 58, the arm 11 operates through the latch 15 to rock the lever 12, thereby lifting the Valve plunger 63, permitting a charge of oil to enter the package. After the filling operation, the rock arm 10 is released from its cam, the plunger lowered and the latch 15 released. In the event that the latch does not swing free of the lever 12 of its own accord, it is released by positive means comprising a stationary cam 18a on the upper end of the post 80, under which cam the roll 18 rides.

The safety mechanism for preventing the Valve plunger from being lifted and also preventing the operation of the pump except when an empty carton is in proper position at the filling station, and the bag therein properly placed on the filling nozzle, will now be described. A tubular post (Figs. 1, 2, 10 and 11) has a fixed mounting on the machine frame 2|. A tubular rock shaft 8| surrounds the post 80 and as shown is made in sections detachably connected by a thumb screw 82 (Figs. 2 and 11) for convenience in assembling and disassembling the parts. Rock arms 83 secured to the rock shaft 8| carry a ver. tical tubular shaft 84 in which the trip rod 19 is mounted for up and down movement.

A latch 85 (Figs. 2 and 5) having a pivotal connection 86 with the shaft 84 is adapted to engage a notch 81 in the trip rod and hold the latter in its lowered position. When the latch is released, as presently described, the rod is moved upward by a coil compression spring 88 mounted thereon Within the tubular shaft 84. Attached to the latch 35 by means of a strap 8.9 is a plate S (Figs. 4, 5, 10) positioned to bear against the side of the carton while the latter is supported on the turret.

When the bag is inated the air pressure therein forces the side of the carton outwardly, thereby releasing the latch 85 and permitting the trip rod 19 to be moved upward into operative position (Figs. 2 and 5). This permits the valve plunger 63 to be lifted as above described for the iilling operation.

The valve will not be lifted under any of the following conditions:

l. When there is no carton or package presented at the filling station.

2. When an empty carton without a bag therein is brought to the station.

3. When the carton contains a leaky or faulty Y bag.

4. When the carton containing the bag is not When any of the above conditions prevail, the latch 85 will not be operated and the trip rod 19 will remain in its lowered position. The latch l will therefore remain disconnected from the lever i2 so that when the shaft 68 is rocked by its cam the lever 'l2 will not operate to lift the plunger, the spring '||a being too weak to lift the plunger. The nozzle therefore remains closed and no oil is discharged therethrough.

The safety mechanism for preventing operation of the pump, as when an empty carton is missing at the lling zone or other of the above mentioned conditions prevail, is as follows. Such mechanism includes means for releasing a clutch through which the shaft 52 (Fig. 1) for driving the pump, is connected to the driving gear 5|.

The operation of the clutch in turn is controlled by the trip rod 79. When a carton is in lling position and operates normally to actuate the trip lever 85 so that the rod 'I9 is lifted, the clutch remains operative for driving the pump. If the rod 19 is not lifted, the clutch is actuated through mechanism now to be described for disconnecting the pump from its driving means.

Clamped to the rock shaft 8| at the lower end thereof is a collar 9| (Fig. 2) carrying a rock arm S2 on which is a cam roll 93 which engages cam lobes $4 attached to the gear 4|. A compression spring Ma (Fig. 7) holds the rock arm 92 in engagement with the cams. A collar 98 (Figs. 2 and 7) is clamped to the rock shaft 8|. A rock arm 95 is formed at one end with a yoke 9% having a pivotal connection 91 with the collar Qii permitting up and down rocking movement of the arm S5. The latter has a pivotal connection ed@ with the lower end of the trip rod 19. The arm S5 (see Fig. 12) comprises a horizontally disposed body portion in the form of a plate 99, and a web or ange H extending lengthwise of the arm. The web is formed at its outer end with a wing or bearing plate |5| which extends above and below the body 99. A second bearing plate or wing M32 opposite the wing |0| extends downwardly below the body plate 99.

A bearing bracket |03 (Figs. 2, 7, 10) mounted on the machine base, has journalled therein a vertical rock shaft |04 to the upper end of which is attached a rock arm |05, the free end of which extends between the Wings |Il| and |02. The shaft ltd has an operating connection through a pair of beveled gears |06 with a horizontal rock shaft |07. A rock arm |08 (Figs. 8, 9), fixed to and depending from the shaft |01, is

connected through a rod .|09 to a trip lever I I0 for tripping the clutch.

The clutch mechanism includes an arm (Figs. 9 and 14) keyed to the shaft 52. An annular clutch member ||2 journalled on the hub of the arm provides a mounting for the sprocket wheel 5 I. An annular ratchet plate I I3 is also mounted on the clutch member I2 and is formed with diametrically opposite ratchet teeth H4. A locking dog l|5 (Figs. 9, 13 and 15) in the form of a bell crank has a pivotal connection I I6 with the arm II|. The dog is formed with a nose to engage the ratchet teeth H4, and a tail |I8 adapted to be engaged by a lug ||9 on the trip lever |10. A dog |20 is pivoted on the opposite end of the arm |I| and both said dogs are connected to a rod |2| mounted for lengthwise sliding movement in a bearing lug |22 on the arm A compression spring |23 mounted on said rod holds the dog I5 in engagement with the ratchet.

Normally the trip lever l0 is swung out of the path of the clutch dogs each time either of said dogs as it rotates with the arm is moved upward past the lug ||9 so that a driving connection for the pump is maintained. This swinging movement of the trip lever is effected by the cams 94 (Fig. 7) operating through the mechanism above described, including the rock shaft 8| and arm S which rocks the arm i. The operative connection between the rock arms 95 and |55 is dependent upon the position of the trip rod 'FEL When the pressure plate 9@ (Fig. 5) is actuated during the normal operation of inflating the bag and releases the latch so that the rod l is lifted by its spring, the rock arm is swung upward` about its pivot so that the wing |02 thereon engages behind the arm |05. rlhe cam 94 then operates through the rock arms 92 and S5 to rock the arm |05., said motion being transmitted to the trip lever It@ (Fig. 9) and swinging it out of the path of the dogs H5, |20. As the cam @4 swings the arm 92 outward the wing Iil rocks the arm |05 inwardly and rocks the trip lever H0 to move the trip lug ||9 into the path. of the trip dogs IE5, |23. But the inward movement of the rock arm 92 as the cam passes beyond it withdraws the trip lever H0 before it can trip the clutch deg I5. It will be noted that during this inward movement of the rock arm 52, the wing E02 is in its lifted position and operative to swing the rock arm |05.

In the absence of a bag or empty carton so that the rod 1S is not released, the rock arm 95 remains 'in its lowered position in which the wing H32 and plate 95 are below the arm |05. The cam 84 now operates as above described to swing the trip lever i is to operative position (shown in Fig 9), but the trip lever is not withdrawn as the wing lili is in an inoperative position. As a result, the trip lever llt remains in position to operate the clutch dog I l5, thereby releasing the clutch and permitting the pump to remain idle so that no oil is fed through the nozzle.

A by-pass valve I'Zs (Fig. 1) may be provided for lay-passing the oil in the event that the pump is operated while the nozzle 2d is closed. Means for resetting the trip rod 'E9 includes a bifurcated arm l25 (Figs. 2, 3 and 5) pivoted at |26 to a bracket on the rock shaft 3|, said arm straddling the rod 19 and engaging a pin |27 on said rod. The arm |25 is formed with a cam |28 which, during the rotation of the turret, rides beneath the projecting end of the rock shaft 58, thereby camming the rod 'lg'downward so that it is reengaged by the latch 85.

Modifications may be resorted to within the spirit and scope of our invention.

We claim:

1. The combination of means for supporting an empty, collapsed container, means for eX- panding the container, a spout positioned and arranged to deliver a quantity of material to the container, a valve for closing the spout, and means actuated by the expansion of the container for eiecting the opening of the valve.

2. Apparatus for packaging a liquid comprising in combination, means for supporting an empty bag in position to receive a supply of said liquid, means for iniiating the bag, means for delivering a quantity of said liquid and flowing it into the iniiated bag, a valve controlling the ow of the liquid into the bag, and means actuated by the expanding of the bag when inflated to effect an opening of said valve and thereby permitting said flow of the liquid into the bag.

3. Apparatus for packaging a material comprising a spout through which the material is delivered, means for supporting an empty bag in position to receive said material, means for conveying the material to said spout, a valve controlling the delivery of said material, means for iniiating and expanding the bag, and automatic control mechanism actuated by the expansion of the bag for effecting an opening of said Valve and permitting delivery of the material to the bag, said control mechanism operative to prevent opening of the valve in the absence of the bag at said position.

4. Packaging apparatus comprising in combination means for supporting a deflated bag, means for supplying a liquid to the bag comprising a passageway through which the material is conveyed, a valve in said passageway, means for inflating the bag, a trip device actuated by the expansion of the bag, and valve opening means controlled by said trip device and operable automatically to open the valve and permit the delivery of liquid to the iniiated bag.

5. Packaging apparatus comprising in combination a rotatable turret, a motor geared to the turret for rotating it, filling heads carried on the turret and each comprising a spout, a stationary pump, means for conducting filling material from the pump and distributing it to the spouts, means providing driving connections between the motor and the pump and including a clutch, means for supporting containers on the turret in position to receive the filling material supplied through the spouts, a valve in each lling head controlling the discharge of said material through the spout, a trip device having a stationary mounting and actuated by said containers in succession, automatic means controlled by said trip device for opening the valves, and automatic means controlled by said trip device for actuating the clutch and disconnecting the pump from the motor upon failure of the trip device to eiect a normal opening of said valve.

6. Packaging apparatus comprising in combination means for supporting an empty deflated bag, means for inflating the bag, a lling nozzle, means for delivering a liquid through said nozzle into the bag, a valve controlling the ilow of liquid to the bag, a trip device actuated by the bag as it is iniiated, valve opening mechanism, and means controlled by said trip device for operating said valve opening mechanism.

7. Packaging apparatus comprising in combination means for supporting an empty deflated bag, means for iniiating the bag, a pump, means for driving the pump, means for conveying liquid from the pump to said bag, means for stopping the pump, and means actuated by the expansion of the bag when inflated to render said stopping means ineffective.

8. Packaging apparatus comprising in combination means for supporting an empty deflated bag, means for inflating the bag, a pump, means for driving the pump, means for conveying liquid from the pump to said bag, a valve controlling the supply of liquid to the bag, means actuated by the expanding bag when it is inilated for openingr said valve and permitting a flow of the liquid to the bag, means for stopping the pump in the absence of a bag at the filling position, and means actuated by the expansion of the bag to render said stopping means ineiective.

9. Packaging apparatus comprising in combination a pump, a motor, driving connections between the pump and motor including a clutch, a rotating turret, a iilling nozzle on the turret, means for conveying liquid from the pump to the filling nozzle, means for supporting an empty container on the turret in position to receive the liquid supplied through said nozzle, automatic means controlled by the rotating turret and operable when a predetermined position of rotation is reached to operate said clutch and thereby disconnect the pump from the motor, and means actuated by the empty container while in said lling position to render said clutch operating means in eiective.

10. Packaging apparatus comprising in combination, a turret rotatable about a vertical axis, a motor geared to the turret for rotating it, filling heads carried on the turret and each comprising a spout, a pump, means for conducting a filling material from the pump and distributing it to the spouts, driving means including a clutch between the motor and the pump, means for supporting containers on the turret in position to receive lling material supplied through the spouts, valves individual to the filling heads and individually controlling the discharge of material through the spouts, a control device actuated by said containers in succession while the containers are in said receiving position, automatic means controlled by said control device for eiecting the opening of the valves, a clutch trip device, means individual to said filling heads for actuating said clutch trip device and thereby disconnecting the pump from the motor, and means actuated by said control device to prevent the operation of the clutch trip device when said control device operates to effect an opening of a said valve, whereby the pump remains operative when the valves are normally opened and is stopped upon failure of a valve to open.

JOHN HOI-IL. OLAV BJ ERING. 

